Giving thanks: Roosevelt Mission helps those who may go without this Thanksgiving

Roosevelt Mission board member Tina Crenshaw, right, offers the mission's maintenance man Charles Griffith an advance taste of supper as crews prepared Thanksgiving dinner for area needy Tuesday.(Greene County Daily World/Mark Stalcup) [Order this photo]

Still, the loss of a major donor's $1,000 in funding has the shelter's officials scrambling to ensure the shelter's Dec. 22 Christmas won't fall short.

"We lost one of our biggest donors. They ran out of money," said Rev. Jerry French, the mission's director. "They'd been good to us for nine years, and we were very blessed. But this year, they just couldn't."

Sharon Greenberg, Linton, ladles out dinner for guests at the Roosevelt Mission's Thanksgiving dinner Tuesday. (Greene County Daily World/Mark Stalcup) [Order this photo]

The loss from the unidentified donor amounts to a huge dent in the mission's funding for needy children, amounting to more than half the $1,700 normally spent on providing toys.

Now, French and his fellow volunteers are scrambling to make up that loss, seeking donations of dollars and toys as they ready for a winter where demand for help is increased by a worsening economy.

Those seeking to donate can bring toys or funds by the mission, located at 89 E. Vincennes St., or call 847-8110.

Standing to greet guests at Tuesday's dinner, French saw firsthand evidence of a growing need.

"How are you, sir?" he asked.

"Alive," one man replied.

"That's a very important thing," the reverend replied. "The alternative can be disastrous."

Dispensing vittles to the crowd, Sharon Greenberg, Linton, was thankful for the chance to aid others.

"I think that it's a wonderful thing to be able to do for people, and I'm grateful to be a part of it," she said. "I love giving back. They've helped me a lot, and I've helped to feed the homeless over the past 20 years, not just here, but when I was in Texas."

By 5:30 p.m., only a quarter of the way through the two-hour dinner, 51 people had been served a feast of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, rolls, dessert and drinks.

Seated under a 41-year-old drawing of "The Last Supper," attendees feasted on food and fellowship, while Jasonville's Jim Hibbard, a member of Unchained Ministries, strummed his guitar and sang from the stage.

"We fixed enough for 100 people, but we can extend that to more if we have to," his wife Anna French said. "The economy's so bad that there are a lot of hungry people out there, and a free meal's a free meal."

The event was open to everyone. Some volunteers, like Ross Deschamp and his wife, Dawn, made the event a family affair, serving up food with their daughters, Kelsey and Kenya, both 15, and Keshia, 17.

"I think it's a great community outreach, and a positive one," said board member Tina Crenshaw.

Donations assisted with the event.

"We had about 50 percent donated by Monday, and then the rest was made up by a man and his wife" who requested anonymity, the reverend said.

By the evening's end at 7 p.m., 60 people had been served, matching last year's numbers. However, the fact guests didn't increase from 2008 doesn't indicate things are getting any better, Rev. French said.

"It appears that the separation between the upper middle class and the lower middle class has increased. That seperation has put more people below the poverty level."

Requests for utility assistance have skyrocketed this season, French said, and Tuesday's showing staying steady may be less attributable to things getting better than to timing.

"It's easier to get people out on Thursday, but the First Christian Church does a great job with Thanksgiving dinner, and we didn't want to compete with them."

The First Christian Church will host its own Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and provides transport to those in need. It will also deliver to the city limits of Linton, Bloomfield, Dugger, Jasonville, Switz City, Lyons, Worthington and Sandborn.

Delivery and transportation requests can be made by calling 847-9535.